Homelessness

Habitat for Humanity

Habitat Corner
No matter your age or gender, there is a place for you within Habitat where your efforts will make a difference. (1) Use your life – grab a hammer and get busy on the house. (2) Gifts from the Heart – donations, both large and small, are gifts that keep on giving. (3) It takes a village – lend a hand through a Habitat “volunteer vacation” such as Mission Jamaica. (4) Women Build – women crews build houses to help move families out of poverty – check out our days. (5) Learn to Serve – young people build around the world through campus chapters and youth programs. (6) Faith in Action – Habitat demonstrates God’s love in action. (7) Click and Build – build a house online with Habitat’s interactive tool (www.habitat.org/donation/clickandbuild/). (8) Learn more – online learning resource equips Habitat leaders (www.habitat.org/hfhu/).

Maplewood Family Services Center
On the fourth Saturday and the 29th, 30th, and 31st of each month, a group of volunteers prepares and serves a meal to the families staying at the homeless shelter in Maplewood. Other opportunities include tutoring, providing support to families, donations of goods such as clothing or household items and financial donations to support the programs.

Bridging, Inc.
This agency provides donated furniture to individuals and families living in poverty, moving from a shelter to more stable housing, or participating in a work/training program. St. Andrew’s provides a moving crew to assist the client in getting the furniture home and set up.

East Metro Women’s Council
This organization assists families in increasing their self-sufficiency through transitional housing, work programs, and building skills and confidence to succeed in the workplace. Volunteers may tutor, provide family support, coach students through the financial class, prepare and serve meals, help with small repairs or maintenance of property or donate goods.
Contact Carol Bryan at 651-773-8401, Extension 16, for more information. To learn more, visit their website.

YWCA Transitional Housing
The YWCA offers programs and services that promote the interests of women and their families, help prepare children and youth for responsible adulthood and strengthen the St. Paul community. St. Andrew’s has been involved mostly with their Transitional Housing program which serves as a bridge for homeless women and children trying to move from homelessness and dependency to self sufficiency and permanent housing. The Pins and Needles Sewing Squad has donated handmade quilts and the clients also receive food baskets at Thanksgiving. They are currently looking for volunteers to serve within their Children’s Enrichment Center on Tuesday and Thursday evenings while the mothers attend different workshops. If you are interested in this or other opportunities, please contact Karyn Zweig at 651-645-2529 or visit their website.

Union Gospel Mission
The Men’s Ministry has some activities with Union Gospel Mission. Check with their Service Team leader for specifics.